Slatington Limits Use Of Water

A water ban in Slatington represents enforcement of the borough's "drought contingency plan" approved by Borough Council at its Feb. 11 meeting.

The ban is "on all outside water use" and is effective immediately, even though most people aren't washing their cars or watering their lawns these days.

Bertha Griffith, borough secretary, explained yesterday the ban is being invoked now to avoid a drought emergency this summer.

If people cooperate and conserve water in the coming months it will help to avoid water rationing and other emergency measures, she said.

Griffith said how long the ban will last depends on the weather. "If we get enough snow or rain in the spring to raise the level of the wells which are the source of water for the borough, there will be no problem," she remarked.

"Right now the springs are low because we haven't had that much snow or rain," she said.

Griffith said while borough residents are being asked to voluntarily cooperate, if they fail to do so, other enforcement measures may be taken such as "surcharges" on water usage.

The borough secretary said, "We can do this now because we havemeters."

In another water development in the borough, officials announced that residents in certain parts of the town may experience dirty and discolored water next Wednesday and Thursday.